Mobley Sentenced On Animal Cruelty Charges

A last-minute change alters the sentencing of a Marion County woman convicted of animal cruelty.
A jury found Annette Mobley guilty on two felony counts and 36 misdemeanors last month.

Just last month, she was charged with animal cruelty charges for her time as head of the Perry Link Animal Shelter.
But in a twist today, Judge Thomas Graham reduced the two felony charges to count as misdemeanors...saying he didn't think she intended to hurt the animals for evil.

"As a result of her failure to properly take care of these animals she lost her home, she lost her job, she lost her daughter who nobody knows where is now, is hiding out because she was charged"

Judge Graham sentenced Mobley to almost a year of unsupervised probation and a 1000 dollar fine.  In addition to those charges, he prohibited her from caring for or working with any animals.  She is only allowed to have one animal as a pet at a time.

Judge Thomas Graham

 "I think it is important whether or not she intended or didn't intend to hurt these animals that she not be in a position in the future for this to happen."

Judge Graham says he believes Mobley was simply overwhelmed by her responsibilities at the Perry Link shelter...and as a result, it was the animals that suffered.

 "The record does reflect that this woman was doing this for nothing, she was doing it without pay and she herself was not financially, had very little financial means."

But now she has the chance to resume her life after an ordeal that has stretched out over nearly two years.

Mobley's attorney has thirty days to file a motion for a new trial...if he so chooses.
Mobley has since moved from Marion County.